TRAVEL

Poorly advertised RV show fa if"
put on spectacular display

FOR ALL of you who missed the recent recreational vehi-
cle show at the bubble, here is my uncomplicated view of
what's available in the take-your-home-on-the-road field.

First, the show is tops so put it
on your calendar for next year.
Even if you have no intention of
ever, ever buying a trailer,
camper, van, tent trailer or other
vehicle, the sheer ingenuity of the
design available is fascinating.

Unfortunately, the publicity for
this year’s show was so second-
rate that on opening night (Feb.
28) the place was semi-deserted.
Therefore, it was easy to climb
aboard the vehicles (400 of them),
snoop, open cupboards and mini-
fridges and talk to the salespeople.

All of us have seen some of the
bus-sized luxury motor homes
cruising down the highway. It’s
truly amazing to have a look in-
side.

We went with friends, Jack and
Camille Hetherington. Jack show-
ed me into one gorgeous
Airstream motor home. The rear
of the vehicle was a master
bedroom with a queen-sized bed.
Jack stretched out, J gave him my
best Mae West leer and asked,
“*Shaill [ lock the door?”

Jack replied, ‘‘No my dear.
This unit does not contain a hot
tub so we shan’t stay.” Brian and
Caruille thought we were nuts but
the sheer luxury of the place was
enough to bring out the jokes.

**Roughing-it’’ is a thing of the
past if you peel $100,000+ out of
your wallet.

On our visit, we concentrated
on small van conversions. We in-
tend buying one for a weekend
get-away, but it must be srrall
enough for me to drive as my per-
sonal vehicle to the shopping
center or the News or to take the
cat to the vet.

I want comfort, though. The
trouble is that there is so many
options.

We decided that we’d pay no
more than $30,000 for my new
van. They're easy to find, but
which one is right for us?

First, I want good visibility. If 1
have to fight for a parking spot in
front of the News and parallel
park this van, I'd better be able to
see what I’m doing.

Next, 1 need a seat that is rais-
ed. The Lord didn’t see fit to raise
me higher than 5°4"’ so GMC is
going to have to make up the dif-
ference.

What do I know about waste
systems? Every van conversion
had some sort of potty.

All need dumping. How on
earth do you ever keep the little
devils clean? Point to ponder. |
can see myself, somewhere in the
back hills, snarling at Brian —
“Use that, you die!”

Speaking of cleaning, we were
inside a vehicle as big as a
Greyhound bus and several other
strangers were there too. This was

Presents

QE SAILS
NEW ZEALAND
& AUSTRALIA

TRAVELOGUE FILM
narrated five in person by:
DOUG JONES
NORTH VAN. CENT. THEATRE
TUE. MAR. 19 - 6:00 & 8:30
$12 25. St. $7.75 + service cnarge
(includes GST}
TICKETMASTER OUTLETS
Information & Charge line 280-4444

Barbara
McGreadie

TRAVELWISE

a bungalow on wheels and I
remarked to one lady that I didn’t
want this much housework.

She replied that the maid's
quarters were ‘downstairs’ and
pointed out the huge baggage
compartment.

Even in the smaller van conver-
sions there are sinks, two, three or
four burner stoves, microwave
ovens, TVs (ugh!), tables and out-
side awnings. In effect, you have
an extra room when you park and
raise the awning.

The cupboards need work in
most of the vans we’ve seen.
Brian pointed out that anything
we put in an ordinary cupboard
would sfip and slide. We need
proper racks for dishes, par-
ticularly. Forget hanging clothes,
too. Bundle up your knits if you
intend travelling by van.

What do you do about bed-
ding? Most vans have ample
storage under the seats in the table
area. These seats make up into
beds (tables fold down). My guess
is that sleeping bags are the, an-
swer with homemade flannelette
bag liners that wash easily.

For the record, here’s a list of
the vehicles available:

Towables
¢ Tent Trailers: all sizes, they

for a

We've spent a king's ransom restoring

usually fold very compactly. The
simple ones are just tents on
wheels but some sleep eight and
include fridges and stoves. Price
range: $6,000 to $12,000.

© Trailers: You can buy any size,
but if you’re Icoking at one of
those big ones you need a big
vehicle te tow it. Some are like
small apartments. The cheapest we
saw was about $9,000, but some
of the 35’ ones went as high as
$48,000.

© Fifth Wheel Trailers: These are
huge and are meant to be towed
by a truck. The advantage is that
you can unhitch the trailer and go
shopping in the truck. Too big for
my taste,

© Track Campers: These fit onto
the back of a pickup and are, in
effect, a trailer because there’s no
access from the driver’s area into
the back. Probabiy not much
good for more than two people
since no passengers can ride in the
back. Prices range from $8,000

up.
P All-in-one
* Van conversions: This is what
we're considering. They can be
driven around town, generally
have extra head room and a varie-
ty of features such as sinks,
stoves, ovens, fridges and com-
fortable beds and tables. You are
looking at prices in the $25,000 to
$40,000 range.
© Class “‘C”’ motor homes: Simi-
lar to the truck camper but bigger.
There is no separation between the
driving area and the main deck so
you can carry passengers if you’ve
got seats with belts. These were
usually benches around the table
— great for kids. Too big for our
needs. Expensive — $40,000 to
$70,000.
© Class ‘‘A’’ Motor Homes: These
are the Greyhound buses on
wheels that you curse on the
highway (often towing a little car).
People live in these. What scares
me is that the real bus driver takes
special training before he wheels
out on the highway, but anyone
can do it in a Class ‘‘A.”’

No, thanks. Too much house-
work and I have no urge to
become a turtle, carrying my en-
tire home on my back.

Enjoy our ro val restoration
se modest sum.

two children.) Come dive into The Empress’

The Empress—an impressive
$45 million to be exact. And
now, as part of our “Savings
Plus” offer, you can stay at this

magnificent waterfront heritage

hotel from only $79.00" per

night, any night until March 31,

1991. (Children under 18 free
in parents’ room; maximum

From

plus

Canadian Pacific 8&4 Hotels & Resorts

The Empress

721 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1W5 (604) 384-8111 or 1-800-268-9411.

*Sinyle or double occupant y plus toe Dased on availabilty and selected accommodation Other standards of rooms are avaduble, including Business Class,
for an uddimonal cost Discount Cunnot be apphed to exiting discounts (individual travel onty} Offer subject to change without notice

per night
“sayings

Sunday, March 17, 1991 - North Shore News - 41

_ Crocuses and
erence: Daffodils

The RV Season
is Here!

GO WEST

YOUR NORTH SHORE
RV CENTRE

DLeés9

SALES © SERVICE RENTALS —_S2!e8 Open Sundays 12% p.m.
- Complete Service Facility

“gltece” 987-8587

1577 Lilayd Ave.) North Van

"NORTH SHORE

VENTURE TRAVEL
BRITAIN & EUROPE

air transat

Wide Body L-1011
Chartered flights

LONDON — Sat., MAY 4 to OCT. 26
from Cdn. $649.00

Vancouver to London ondon to Vancouver
May 4 a

PRESTWICK — Tues., June 25 to Sept. 17
trom Cdn. $649.00

[ PreatoaE WF VaREGINGT

S350 of Sept tr

‘or adult tare Wi lower,

return.

Wdren age <

PARIS — Tues., June 25 to Sept. 17
tcom can. °F 49°

Paris to Vancouver

3420 june 2o-oepl.
ep.

poet Tote SS Sept TO, SS $
for_adull Tara Tower
OVER THERE FARES

Bring family and friencls to Vancouver
Select your dates & applicalle fares from above

THE BRITAIN & EUROPEAN CONNECTION
Fiy AiR UK from ‘.ondon to

Amsterdam Cdn. $252.00 Nice To be announced
Brussels Cdn. 264.00 Frankfurt To he announced
Aberdeen Cdn. 252.00 usseldori To be announced
Edinburgh Gdn. 238.00

| 110 East 14th St. fat Lonsdale)
North Vancouver

986-1377 |

new pool and heajlth club. Sip
aftemoon tea in her refurbished
lobby. Dine in her handsomely
redecorated restaurants. And
discover ali of Victoria’s charm,
right on her doorstep.

Just contact your travel
agent or cail the hotel directly at
(604) 384-8111 or 1-800-268-9411.

per room/

~
wy